Brazil Voids Merck Patent On AIDS Drug

JoeBackward writes "Merck has this useful anti-AIDS drug Elfavirenz, and Brazil has lots of poor people with AIDS. So, after trying really hard to get Merck to cooperate on pricing, the Brazilian government has decided to take a 'compulsory license' to the patent, and get the drug from a factory in India. This compulsory license is basically a way to take the patent by eminent domain." This move gives Brazil one more thing in common with Thailand, both of which have blocked YouTube. Thailand's compulsory licensing of Elfavirenz and Plavix has landed the country on the US's watch list for piracy.

But...

[Anonymous Coward]

If we take away the incentive of patents, people will stop researching medicine, stop writing software, stop building devices, and retreat to the nearest cave where they will live out their short remaining time on Earth drinking rancid water dripping from cracks in the ceiling.

This is one horrible blow to humanity.

Re:humanity vs capitalism

[hxnwix]

They do need to recoup the cost of the development of failed drugs and dead-end research.

That being said, we might also want to remember that RIAA members need copyright durations of artist's death + 1000000 years in order to compensate for all those failed artists.

And let us not forget that not every hole exxon drills yields oil, which makes $3.50/gallon a reasonable price for 85 octane gas.

Furthermore, we should bear in mind that baby seals are vastly overpopulated ...

Doctors Without Boarders

[Anonymous Coward]

Why would I believe a report from a bunch of doctors who won't even let someone stay at their house?

Re:humanity vs capitalism

[ne0n]

would you mind citing the exact patents which cover poo-free street technology? The whole of France needs to license this stuff.

Re:humanity vs capitalism

[The_Quinn]

Intellectual property is a form of property rights. These rights are required for humans to survive. Conversely, the abrogation of property rights is a force of destruction in humanity.

Brazil does not respect property rights, therefore the people of Brazil produce very little of any value beyond hand-to-mouth, and therefore their government can do nothing but steal from other countries in a blatant attempt to flout the same rights of individuals that allowed individuals to create the achievements in the first place.

Re:humanity vs capitalism

[The_Quinn]

they ought to play smarter and drop costs when countries try to negotiate price-the tactic of countries taking a compulsory license is a big weapon against which they have no counter.

Wrong. This is where the government should be stepping in to protect America's interests through a combination of diplomatic means, which could ultimately include sanctions, embargoes, etc. As a poorer country, they have much more to lose from us than we have to gain from them, and it is entirely appropriate to demonstrate that fact to them.